Spiritual Awakening: Stepping Back To Move Forward!!!
As many of the regular readers of this blog are aware I am very involved with The American Cancer Society Relay For Life. 2019 marks my 21st year as a participant in The American Cancer Society Relay For Life. I decided to take a step back this year and simply be a participant and to focus on my fundraising and as a result I have raised $3951 so far to help plant the seeds of hope and healing for those touched by cancer by funding research, education, advocacy, and services. In stepping back and letting others take on leadership roles I have been able to move forward. Sometimes we simply have to take a look at something from a different perspective to see how it serves us so that we can mover forward in our quest to be spiritually aware and awake. I learned some valuable lessons in the last 10 months and the most important lesson that I learned was that you don’t always have to be the center of attention. I also have learned to go where you are celebrated and not just tolerated. I have also learned that not everyone is going to share my passion and that is okay. In stepping back and detaching from expectations I have been able to attract more peace, joy, love, and prosperity into my life.
I am sharing the following standings for The American Cancer Society Relay For Life as of 6:00 PM today (4/8/2019) as to illustrate what happens when you simply let people do their thing on their terms and step back. When you simply find your lane and stay in your lane becoming laser focused you will find that you grow personally, professionally, and spiritually.
I have also learned that what you think is a good thing others may not share the same sentiment. This was the case when I registered for The Luminaria Bag Exchange. The Event Lead wasn’t really into it so I registered as a Team Captain and took ownership of it. As a result I have had a great time receiving bags and sending out bags from The Relay that I am participating in on April 12 at Plantation Central Park. In stepping back and not taking things personally I have been able to move forward and thus make a positive impact on the lives of those touched by cancer. I have come to understand that sometime you simply have to follow your heart and allow everything to fall into place.
A few months ago I contacted Riddell about donating mini helmets and they sent 30 mini helmets from different teams. I then though wouldn’t Relay For Life mini-helmets be great to use as an incentive for people to fundraise. My thinking was place the minimum order of 144 at $15 each and in October which is Crucial Catch Month offer them to the first 144 people who raise $200. I was told we don’t do things like these we have found people prefer to have apparel. I thought wow for a $2160 investment you could bring in over $26,000 to further your mission and you don’t want to give this a try. I explained that as much as I like to have Relay apparel a mini-helmet would be something I would work to get and I would display it and it then becomes a conversation starter thus it furthers the mission. I stepped back and realized that though it is a great idea there are those that simply will not see the forest for the trees so simply step back and move forward with other efforts. I know what is going to happen someone is going to see this and say what a great idea let me sponsor the mini-helmets and use them to promote my business and help The American Cancer Society. A lesson I learned is that when you stay ahead of the curve your personal, professional, and spiritual life is enhanced. Sometimes doing something different serves as a spiritual awakening for all you come in contact with as you move along your spiritual path.
When you step back and take action you never know who you may influence. About 8 years ago I had these Beat Cancer Sneakers made and I proposed to NIKE that they make them available and donate a percentage of each sale to The American Cancer Society. They turned me down. Guess what in October of 2018 The Minnesota Vikings ordered Beat Cancer Sneakers for their staff to wear while working one their home games. This was spiritual awakening for me as it reinforced that my ideas are good and to keep moving forward in my quest to maximize my message. About 7 months after I posted these and suggested that a manufacture make Beat Cancer Sneakers The American Cancer Society entered into a contract with www.skicks.com to manufacture and distribute Relay For Life Sneakers. Again this reinforced the idea to stay awake and to continue to be of service and value to others by sharing ideas and simply walking in your truth by stepping back so you can move forward. In detaching from the outcomes and simply accepting that my calling is to help others I have come to be more aware and awake spiritually. I am grateful for the ability to step back and as a result find ways to move forward. In my 21 years of involvement with The American Cancer Society Relay For Life I have come to see that there will be people with limiting beliefs and their will be those who see no limits at all. As you seek to find what you are looking for you will need to step back so you can move forward.
May you continue to move on and follow the path that God has put you on by stepping back when needed so as to find ways to move forward. Stay Positive!!! Namaste!!!
JDOGG is known as The Positive Broadcaster. He is about being of service and value to others by sharing a positive message and helping people to grow personally, professionally, and spiritually. He is very involved with The American Cancer Society Relay For Life. His dedication to help other people excel is amazing and he has many awards for his service to the community.
